🎙️LIVE | GIRO D’ITALIA 2025 OPENING CEREMONY & TEAMS PRESENTATION

Follow the Giro d’Italia 2025 Opening Ceremony and Teams Presentation! Live from Tirana (Albania)!

Segui la cerimonia di apertura e la Teams Presentation del Giro d’Italia 2025| In diretta da Tirana (Albania)!

going to be spectacular jurro. You know, we expect a lot of fireworks from the from the main actor and um well, it’s it’s going to be an exciting three days in Albania, you know, our first time in this country. So, people uh I hope they’re going to be on the road, you know, cheering for everybody. Yeah, it’ll be very interesting to see how the race is perceived over the next three days in a country that it has never visited before. But of course, the historical and cultural ties between Italy and Albania, just two countries either side of the Adriatic Sea, they go back hundreds, if not thousands of years. And you noted it um just yesterday when we both arrived in Tana Yakapo. The second language spoken in Tana is actually Italian, isn’t it? more people speak Italian than speak for example German, French or English. Yes indeed. Um the fun fact about this is uh it’s because of television. So Italian television was broadcasted here in Albania for a long time and actually a lot of them speaks the language and also due to the immigrants they return after in Albania or they have a connection or a parent or somebody from the family living in Italy. So it’s actually pretty common in restaurants to just speak Italian, you know, and you can see a lot of Italian tourists as well. So it’s a it’s a strong connection a a a bond in between those two countries and and this uh this grand departies definitely show off. Uh yeah, fantastic that the uh tour of Italy, the Jirro ditalia visits another country once again for the Grand Patensa Grand Patensa Albania putting on a show. Now that’s um that’s the setting. That’s where the race is happening. But the race will be decided, will be shaped and will be determined by the riders and the teams who make their way here every year. It’s fascinating to look at the start list to see which of the big star names have returned, which maybe are absent, but which young riders might make their mark. And um just looking down this big start list, we’ve got 184 riders here, which is eight more than we usually have. Um it’s full of potential, isn’t it? There’s a lot of intriguing names indeed. Uh as you mentioned like um we definitely miss like the main star of pocket from last year you know the the previous winner but this left left a door open to much more contenders and I expect this this grand tour to be very very hectic. You know the two probably two of the main favorites I used on Roglish. They were on a clash during Catalunia and the the distance and the difference between between the two those two riders were very marginal. So, I expect like a lot of fireworks from those two, but we have a big list of good names. Five previous winners also of this race. So, and um I think like they’re going to be a big show on the mountains. And of course, as ever with the Grand Tour, it’s not just about the general classification. Of those 184 riders, many of them are riding for teams which won’t necessarily have big ambitions in terms of the general classification. They have come to the Giralia to get themselves a stage win. Whether that’s in a medium mountain stage or in a high mountain stage later on in the race, in an individual time trial or in the sprints, there are so many different stories waiting to be told over 3 weeks. Indeed. Um the sprinters we got here like they are quite different than the usual uh uh flat stages like we see in often in other races. Um, we got names like Bernarda, Peterson, Groves, riders who likes to go uphill and climb very very well. So, I expect also in in a difficult stages like the the the one the two first stages we got here in Albania to be up there and this can open up like so many different scenarios because uh of course it’s going to be a pelon willing to come together for a bunch of sprint even when the parkour is going to be out. Fascinating stuff and the entertainment has started. What do you think? Did you like it, Anthony? I did. I saw that in rehearsal, but not as dynamic as it was uh tonight. A very special show and that theme continues throughout the night as we bring throughout all the night. Yeah. All this traditional Albanian music and uh dance to all of you. But things will change as we go through the night. Yeah. We have a very special moment right now, Anthony. Right, we do. We need to invite onto the stage a very special guest. Yeah, let’s do that. Shall we invite the Minister of Education and Sport here, Mrs. Agerta Monalu onto the stage? Round of applause for her. Good evening. Good evening. I have emotions, but the minister with authority for sport in Albania just announcing in Italian in very good Italian actually that she’s proud that the Italian has come to Albania for the first time. It’s a historic moment. It’s an opportunity to show the world and a big party. She speaks to the local crowd now in Albania. We’re here at an extraordinary moment in Albania’s history because the race starts on Friday, stage two is on Saturday, and on stage three, which is the final day of racing in Albania, there is Yako, a general election in Albania as well. So, they’ve got a lot on their plate at the moment with the Galia and with deciding who’s going to be their government for the next four years. A really historic moment. Exactly. Exactly. They like to have the full plate, you know, for the weekend. Welcome to Albania. Welcome to Tyana. Let Jirro Ditalia begin and let it begin in Tyrana. Thank you. And with those words, I think we can get it underway. Thank you for your warm very soon. We are going to be seeing the first of the teams introduced to the crowd here. They will be introduced throughout the evening in three groups. Total of 23 teams of course which is a team more than usual which it takes a little bit of explaining doesn’t it exactly like you said general rule like said um there was 22 teams um but this year we we we’ve seen many teams interested to participate in in this grand tour in the spec specifically and so they basically put pressure on the UCI and the UCI agreed to to extend to one extra team and and I think the the show will be will be even better because we assure the likes of Bitco because because the team left out by the first first draw and at the end they’re here. So we expect a big show from from Tom and his team because they also have a sprinter in Mosc going to change also the dynamic of the race with an extra team with with their interesting the most tough race in the most beautiful place 184 athletes. will see Tom’s team. He’ll be the last to bring them onto the stage. They’re the last of the teams in this first batch of teams that are going to be introduced. First up, we are going to see the team of Israel Premier Techch introduced onto the stage. Let’s welcome our first team onto the stage. Let’s welcome the team Israel Premier Tech. Here they come. So, spearheaded in terms of the general classification, Israel Premier Techch by Israel Premier Tech. a Canadian rider Derek G who really made his entire reputation at the Geodalia a couple of years ago returning to the scene the rare where he really forged his reputation and he comes to the race in really good form he’s supported by Simon Clark who’s going very well the veteran climber from Denmark Yakang Yan Nick Sh the Australian Corin Strong as well making up their number the fast finishing rider from New Zealand sunshine It’s a good team, isn’t it? Yeah, definitely. As you mentioned, Derek has has put a lot of faith into this this grand tour and he’s definitely going to be up there. As you said, two years ago, he made his break through season, I would say, and last year show a very good tour to France. So, we expect him to be up there this year. It was off the races for a while. So, it’s in the unknown, I would say, but the team is definitely strong. A lot of experience because with not the youngest in the pelon but experience there showed a good form during the race in his last stage winner stage winner stage winner Jaken in his last year of racing as a prostage winner of the one of the riders of your generation if not older than you actually as well coming towards the end of his career I He’s announced as well. This is his last year. He loves the judo and came very close Simon Clark to in the company of Alandi a couple of years ago holding off a sprint and winning from a breakaway. Good to see Simon Clark back come to the JO with a strong team. Total of 32 riders. So next up, Arba B&B Hotels from France, a world team who are at the moment undergoing something of a change, aren’t they? At the moment, they are finding a progressive team of the wind harder and harder to come by. They are signing fewer and fewer bigname riders and they are looking to develop their young stars for the future wherever that might be. whe you know this next year is going to be is going to mark the end of this this three years for the UCI license and on the the best 18 so very likely it’s going to drop off the work status but with the French nationality I’m sure some some French races as you said at the moment they’re not investing in any any recruitment in any any dealing new dealing and here with some breakaway very surpris when when the speed is a little bit confused and he likes to mix up. Um hopefully it can be a race when they can start doing something uh for the for their classification in the UCI. Thank you very much guys. Thank you to the team of the nail on the head there when you said we expect to see them in breakaways. That will be their method I think. Let’s welcome our next team. will be pretty much one way or another. So from France, we stay in France. Uh this is a team Yakapro that you know very well indeed. Your old team of I spent six years with with his although at my time did this amazing jersey they show now. G is coming back from racing. He was injured early this season. He was he had a very good start of the season in Oman. Um very unlikely after he was he was injured. I think he broke a collar bone or something and Roman just in preparation for this race. The team is actually pretty strong in supporting him. I think like with Kevin I can I can expect him to be in the race when things go. team from Italy stage winner just being introduced to the crowd the Luxembourg champion sold Italian in the ranks the champion he always seems to be the champion of Luxembourg world champion from Norway they don’t really love David over the last years They invested way more. Oh, way more. They invested more in definitely in GC ambitious and they they they stop investing into sprinters at the moment and the only buzz guy in the team is Paul Pinoy which is not present and so big couple of years as he seems to have lost top spot in that team to some extent to Lenny Martinez. a good we are going to one of the Italian teams a new team for the last three or four years they have been a big part of the judal and they’ve enjoyed success as well significant as they are known now and they bring an interesting team to the race and in particular they have a young I think we’re going to see plenty of exactly with all for the GC for the future without expecting to be the volume. But it’s shown like a steady stable over the years. So hopefully it can be this breakthrough this represent a couple years ago in terrible weather was it was it was it was not not famous for the good weather that part of Italy. There he is. David B. So the speaker asked him what’s the what’s the pressure on him if he feel the responsibility to deliver. So he he feel like he grown pretty much from last year when he got the 13th place and yeah was pretty brief and he said he just hoped for a good year. What else can he say? He has no idea what’s about to happen to him over the next three weeks. going to be hoping for the best but prepared for the worst because the Jurro is a race that throws everything at you. But what a talent he is. I’m looking forward in particular, I think, to seeing him race over the coming week, three weeks I should say, not week. So, next up, we switch to Belgium. One of two Belgian teams in the race, three Belgian teams and Tamar Wanty are coming to the party with some familiar names, some of whom in the past have enjoyed success at the Giralia. And in particular, I think one of the biggest names in this team is the rider in second place here with the long blonde hair. That is Taco Vanderhorn. His greatest moment on a bike was his stage win at the gym at Italia from a breakaway what, three years ago, something like that. And um he is a rider who has come back from really really serious injury. He was off the bike for about a year and a half and he’s come back and he’s looking good. Yeah, definitely. He had a a horrible pressure in to Flanders. He had a concussion if I’m not mistaken and he was out yet for a very long time. Um he just show good form in the first races of the of the season. So hopefully he can be back on on a winning streak like he was used to be you know and as we see Gent Tyson a very sprinter physique is expected to be up there when when when they’re going to be a bunch of sprinter bunch finish. And this is the Italian side of the team. Kleoni and Petil to I would say now experienced guy and Bato. So for a Belgian team not a good Italian representation. South African team leader Louis Manis who will I’m sure as ever try for the general classification. See see how far into the race he can go and then maybe reconfigure his race if he’s dropped a little bit too far off. But uh there were just signs last year in particular that Louis was coming back to something closer to his best. It be interesting to see how he goes. Yankees team picnic postn. So team picnic post NL now they could do with a win or two from the GOA. They haven’t absolutely started 2025 with the kind of results that they would have wanted. No, they lived also uh some unfortunate moment with some crashes, some injured. Uh even is just coming back from a from an injury. Um Pap Jakobson was uh had to do surgery both on um legs, I guess, and iliac artery surgery. Exactly. Exactly. So hopefully they’re going to reverse this thing in here. um was always a solid team and uh this is going to be his the last grand tour for Bard because he’s going to retire at the end of this year in Tok and of course Roma will have happy memories of racing in Italy the last time he was here he took the yellow jersey exactly last year with an amazing ride in the to France but let’s not forget they also have Casper Banudin which is uh a developing sprinter isn’t he yeah he’s a very good sprinter still very young I think he’s 24 and hopefully he can he can have his his lucky day here at the jur. But I think we’re going to hear from Roman once all the riders including Alexander Edmonson the former time trial champion of Australia have been introduced to here is bad being introduced. One of the very and truly gentlemen of the balan. Absolutely. Yeah. team. Thank you guys. Oh, Roma Badday is being spared interview duty. Well, it’s a marginal gain, isn’t it? No energy expended in talking to Anthony McCrossen on the stage. So, Bald waves goodbye and off he goes. And you’re absolutely right, one of the real gentlemen on and off the bike as well. His dealings with the media have always been impeccable down the years. As we switch our attention now to Spain, And one of the big teams historically always competitive at the Geodalia and it’s at the Jirro where in recent years Moby Star have achieved some of their biggest moments actually stage winner few years ago with the Colombian Ana Rubio and of course the other very famous Colombian in their ranks is a former winner of the Jodalia albeit how many years ago? Gosh 9 years ago Naido Kintana the winner of the Oh no it’s more than that isn’t it? 11 years ago. Could be more. Yeah, it could be more. 2014 Jirro was Nar Kintana. So 11 years have passed since the Colombian road to victory here. And they also won in 19 if I’m not mistaken with y. So a long history with the with the pink race. So they hopefully they’re going to they’re going to show something good. Definitely not a top tire team in here, but uh with Malaysia also can uh can be a good prospect on time trial over the next days. Yep. A former world world champion as U23 Formulo here. Italian climber. A lot of climbers as you would imagine. Not just David Formulo. I know Rubio Jefferson Sepa Nintana Baron as well. All good climbers. Albert Torres. Well, he’s got a fast finish, but he’ll have a go in the sprint, but he’s a little bit unsupported, isn’t he? In a team built for climbers. All was was very good last year in the Wela. So I expect him to be up there when the when the race gets a little bit tough with a maybe a reduced sprint bunch. Yeah. So you know but he has to face the likes of Bernard Peterson. So like very very tough guys to beat. All of you for your reception of these riders can in his second year in his second spell with Moistto back for more at the Jillia. That leaves one last team in this opening group of teams that are going to be introduced and it is the team who have reshaped the size of the world tour Grand Tour Pelaton because of their star signing Tom Pitcock and Q36.5 coming to the Geodalia for the first time and a lot is expected of Tom Pitcock and I for one am going to be fascinated to see how much he’s able to deliver here in Italy. There he is. Yeah, as you said um is because of the pressure over the over the UCI basically that we got 23 team at the starting line this year and it seems like with the coming of Pitco inside the team is uh the team is now tied together you know they started to have a lot of results over the years with seen Mosqueti it was really constant and very good over all those first four months of racing and hopefully can they can have already a victory you know as their first grand tour so I debut champion. Mateosi. There he is. Mate Mosqueti, the fast man from Italy. This man’s pretty fast as well. Emil Leapens. I think he’s the first national champion we’ve seen so far introduced to us. The national champion of Lapia. Damian H. The Aussie climber. Big man for a climber, but an excellent climber. Mark Donovan. He’s a good climber as well. Zavier Aspen. And then the leader of them all, Tom Pitcock, who has had a microphone placed in front of him. So unlike Roman Badday, Tom Pitcock is not spared interview duties. Good evening, Tom. Good good evening. Good evening. A very great reception for you here in this square. Let’s think about this, Jirro Ditalia. Welcome to the Jirro. This race has got rolling characteristics. It’s got stages for you written all over it all the way through. So, bearing in mind you won the Jirro next generation, have you thought about the overall is it stages or are you not giving anything away? Give us your thoughts. Not not giving anything away. Come on, give us something. No. Um, no. I think um I’m excited to race to be honest. get it get stuck in every day and um you know with these guys we’re we’re up motivated and want to uh yeah take the opportunity that we’ve got in this race and take it with both hands. Thank you, Tom. Stephan Tom Pitcock, such a talented, interesting rider. maybe at a little bit of a crossroads in his career as he determines where the next few years take him, whether or not he genuinely wants to ride for the general classification in Grand Tours, which is a very, very specific psychological set of characteristics that you need, or whether or not he’s happier riding for the win in breakaways and concentrating more throughout his career in one day racing. Epical pitco, isn’t it? Definitely a showman. Right, that was the first group of uh eight teams introduced and I think we’re going to get a little bit of a musical interlude now in this 23 teams in total. But I think we should get on with our next part of our show. What do you think? Sure. Yeah, sure. An amazing evening. Well, lots of emotions, energy, rhythm, sports, and everything. But we have another performance performance. Your part, Anthony. Yeah, we’ve al always got little inter intersections with uh tonight an emotional journey now into the heart of Albanian musical identity. We’re going to be begin with an intimate and moving moment because the guitarist Orel Jeani is going to join us on stage and we saw this in rehearsal. He’s very powerful. He’s got an evocative melody on the electric guitar. But alongside him are the choir of the National Theater of Opera and Ballet. It’s true, Anthony. Well, fantastic. Rather than talk through this, I think we’re going to just take a little breather up, Yakapo and I, and let you enjoy this next musical interlude, and then we’ll be back with the next group of eight teams to be introduced on stage. It’s their time on stage, right? It is. Let’s welcome them. It’s been Heat. Heat. Oh my god. My There is heat. She says Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Well, bravo indeed. Tell you what, I’ve spent a fantastic day in Tana myself and met a lot of the locals already and been guided around this city, which is fascinating in all sorts of ways. A really proud nation with a very distinctive history and uh great to see some of that being reflected as we introduce the team to the GO to the people of Albania, but not just the people here in Tana, right across the world. These pictures being beamed Absolutely. What a great show that was on Paulo. Should we move on with our next slot team? Okay, I think it’s time to bring on the next teams. Starting with coffee, who are going to be the next team to be introduced. Let’s go on to represent the other team. Let’s do that. Let’s welcome Let’s welcome our next team onto the stage. Say good evening to Kofides. Well, the longest serving sponsor in the world’s tour, Coffeidis, who’ve been sponsoring this famous French team for what well over 30 years, I think now. Yeah, something like that, isn’t it? He’s actually the second longest. Go on. Who’s la? Lotto Lotto from Belgium. I didn’t realize that actually. I know because this is how they celebrated four years. Lot is not present. So coffee is definitely the longest sport at the time in this race. Okay. Thanks for correcting. So here they come. They’ve got a very interesting sprinter, I think, in the first instance to look out for in Milan. Is he a guy you’ve had your eye on? He’s a young sprinter just making a career for himself at the moment, isn’t he? Yeah. Yeah. He lived a very successful beginning of the season. I think he snapped already like three victories. Last one was not long ago at Baloni if I’m not mistaken. And he has a team to support him and a lot of guys for the attack. Alani as we see now, Mon. I think they’re going to do good. You know, they younger. They they got they’re hungry. Sorry. We can expect them a lot on the attack on the especially on the medium hill. Next rider is from Spain. Yeah. Last being introduced Jonathan Lra very experienced from Belgium Pete Alagia from Flanders. But you’re right, Stefani is one of their riders. In fact, I think he’s the only rider in this coffin team to have ridden to victory at the Jodalia in the past. Dani knows what it’s like to come here, get in a breakdown. Some throw. That’s good for the public. Yep. Thank you guys. All right. Next up, we are going to be introducing XDS Aana. And uh what a year they are having because we spoke didn’t we earlier um Yakapo about how ARA BNB hotels are in this ferocious battle to maintain their world tour status. Well Z Rastana and after two very uh difficult years in terms of UCI points where they were looking after the interest of Mark Caendish specifically for the tour to France that is obviously a target they’ve achieved. This year though they have to make up an awful lot of ground in terms of UCI points and they are going about it with incredible style. Yeah, it was a stellar beginning of the year for them. Um they changed quite a lot of things in the team. A lot of new guys I think like among the guys we can see now on the stage probably for them are new and uh definitely they changed the approach of of racing and the results were just astonishing. I think like just about the last week it was three victories for them and they score more points at than UAE team Emirates which with Pogachar the likes of a lot of points but what with the with the strength of the collective they they’re doing so good they actually closed the gap with all the major teams and they’re very much on the on the way to overtake um team picnic with a smile on his face one of their new signings Max Caner is their German sprinter, you’ll be looking for points. But pretty much every one of these riders who you’re looking at there on that list have contributed already significant amount of points in their in their various different race programs over the piece. Christian Scaroni, for example, started the uh season brilliantly well. But there the shortest of those little riders there, Lorenzo Fortonato. He’s he’s one of the real stars taking that famous win a couple of years ago from a breakaway which really launched his career at the GO Italia. Well, he’s already won this year for Astana and a prestigious race of so he’s in great form. Yeah, definitely. And he was on top of Dolan and as you mentioned, it was the breakthrough of his career and so far this year showed also some consistency which was missing over the over the last couple of years. So uh I think the expectation on the GC from Nastana is on are on his shoulder his and the the broad shoulders of wed fools as well who at the age of 38 is still going very well indeed. Thank you to the guys from but no rider in the entire pelon of the judal has won more stages than Diego who comes back to the judalia for the millionth time. He’s won eight stages in his career in his long career of this uh wonderful 3-we test. So we switch our attention to the only British team in the race and it’s Inos Grenaders. You always expect a good team to come to every race that they take on, especially a grand tour. Over recent years they’ve struggled maybe less at the G and Italia where with Gar Thomas they’ve had a degree of success at this race but there are just signs that they have rediscovered their winning ways a little bit in this year. Yeah, as some said they just got rid of themselves, you know, and they changed the way they were racing like um stop pretending they were the best team in the GC field and they’re racing amazingly this year. They got a lot of victories. Tarling was always up there very aggressive way of racing and we’re very happy to see Bernal also back on back on form after that that horrific crash he had back in Colombia. Two powerful British riders being introduced to the crowd. Ben Turner, who’s very aggressive, good classic specialist, and perhaps arguably perhaps the best time trialist in the world right now. Josh Tarling alongside him. He’s an an incredibly strong rider for for such a young rider because I think he’s 21 at the moment. Incredibly strong already European champion. Brandon Rivera, Kim Haiduk, the German, versatile rider. Very attacking rider Lucas Hamilton. Lucas Hamilton at one of their new signings from Inos Grenaders. He will be working primarily as a domestique in this race as will the veteran Spanish former time trial champion Jonathan Castro Vjo still going for the Inos Grenaders after the best part of a decade. Team announcement is in great form as he proved just recently at the Tour of the Alps. And welcome back to racing the very popular former Jirro dital Italian winner Egan Bernal the champion of Colombia the jersey that he won back in was it January February at the beginning of the year he’s the reigning road race and time trial champion of Colombia and there were signs when he came over to Europe that he was looking absolutely wrapped well maybe not his best but close to his best and then he broke his collar bone exactly it was not so disappointed he was so disappointed but Um he showed great mentality because he was back on the bike pretty like it’s weird to say but actually the collarbone is not the worst to be to not the worst bone to be broken. So he was quickly back on the bike and he’s now here. So hoping for a good GC result. Yeah Ben I think goes into this race as something of an unknown quantity. If he’s on form he’s going to be a real threat. Knows how to win this race. Of course, as we look at the purple jerseys with those very distinctive gray shorts, which in my opinion are a little bit controversial of team Jacob Alula. What do you think about the shorts first? Uh, I was disliking. Yeah, I now like it. Okay. A world tour. Juula, we were commenting on it earlier. Always come to every Grand Tour with a marquee sprinter except this Jira. They don’t seem to have a a real bonafidey sprinter in their pack. It’s it’s another team we’ve seen over the past years moving a little bit more into GC ambitious and they actually have one sprinter in the field which is Gean not present here but they got uh some very uh dangerous guy for the breakaway one we seen now Lucas Bluff he was already two times national road champion for Australia. Um, Zana is another guy which we expect him uh to be up there in the breakaway and maybe the the all the weight for the for the GC all the GC hops are going to be on the shoulder of Chris Harper. I think so. I think that’s the way it looks. David de Pto, young Italian rider. And alongside him, the Dutchman Kur Balman is a two-time stage winner a couple of years ago at the Jirro. Always from breakaways. Was only able to do that though Kan Balman after his teammate Tom Dumulan had relinquished his GC ambitions and that freed up Kuan Balman to go off hunting for stages. and he did it very effectively. Hasn’t really backed it up. That was a breakthrough race for him, but he hasn’t really showed signs that he’s uh able to do that too regularly, but we do know that he can do it at his best. All the best to Jacula. Let’s welcome our next team onto the very interesting to see in this presentation also the directors being present on stage. Not often that happen, so they might be happy about it. Why not part of the team effort, aren’t they? Tuna Pro Cycling. Of course, they’re a new outfit, relatively new, returning to the Judo Ditalia once again. And each year that goes by, this team, this collective, this group of riders gets better and better. Indeed, this team has been founded by the former Olympic and world champion Fabian Cancel. It’s a Swiss outfit. And as you said, they show like a great but stable growth over the years. And they have a very dangerous guy for the GC which is Michael Stoer. He just uh he just recently won through the Alps showing an incredible form and incredible shape um sorting the likes of Larry Vbas the former United States national champion are there to help him in order to achieve something good in this race. America. Stage winner in Switzerland, Larry Warbas. Very popular rider, Larry Warbas, formerly of AG Situ. Of course, Janice Vazar from Germany. Stage winner in the Swiss climber. Florian St. Florian Stalk. Powerful German ruler. Rick Pimemer. Rick Flamers probably their fastest rider when it comes to a sprint. Alexander Cleger part of his leadout train. And this guy’s going well as well. The young German national champion Marco Frener has had a really good start to 2025, but not as good as his. Michael Store has been in the form of his life. A brilliant parise and as he say a wonderful tour of the Alves, consistent, strong, understated, and dangerous. Michael Storade could have an excellent Jod at Italia and you would not bet against him ending up on the podium of this race. It’s a it’s a possibility for him. You know, over the years he was showing some great performance and I think he found the right environment for him to to to get his best and the last couple of months showed what he’s able of. So farewell to Cheetah Pro Cycling and welcome onto the stage at the Synindic, the second of the Belgian teams. And definitively when we look at this team and we look at their lineup, we can say with total certainty Jakob, they’re not going to win the Geod Challenge Cup. No, definitely not. I think like uh maybe if you look at the average weight, probably they’re the the heaviest and uh but they are very much likely to be up there when it’s going to be a sprint because they have cutting GS already won a stage in the Jurro in the welter and it’s a very dangerous uh sprinter. Yeah, we can see Jansen Florite who can be very much likely his lead out guy, but is a team who has shown a great um group work. You know, when it’s when it’s a matter of a lead out, they know how to move up in the pelin. Yeah, some real experience there. Jimmy Yansen’s, Edward Plankards, these are guys who know how to race. They know how to position their riders in the bunch. some real experience and Gan Airman’s their best climber will seek to get I think in breakaways there he is late on in the race maybe in the second third week we’ll see more and more of him but straight away and by straight away I mean Friday this man has an opportunity to take the Malia Roza there are a couple of clims on uh the course but Kaden Groves even though he looks like a track sprinter climbs extremely well and it’s um something that makes no sense when you just look at him optically but he’s brilliant and he’s proven it many times incredibly. I think like his first victory came from uh Catalunia which is definitely not a a sprinter friendly race at all but as you said like if you look at him something is missing but he climbed like a a little goat. Now that Barry Victorious returned to the judo ditalia with a rider who impressed last year homegrown rider Antonio Tiveri. I think this is a big race for him because he’s hugely talented. We know that he made his impact to some extent in this race last year. But this team and indeed this country, I don’t mean Albania, I mean Italy, this country will be hoping and expecting that Tibet can move up a grade. Yeah, last year Antonio finished fourth in the GC showing a very good consistency over the three weeks and this year is back supported by a very strong team. Um they got Pio Bilbao. Bio is often started all his grand tours as a second leader and end up like being the best of the team. So true. And it’s already I think like 10 years performing like incredibly good as well as Damiano Caruzo. So with these three guys they can uh they can be sure they’re going to be up there when the when the Mont is going to start. Here is Damiano Damiano Cuz of course second place overall in the GO Italia going back three four years and an extended spell in the Malar Roa as well. There’s Pa you were talking about. That’s a very good observation. I like that. Starts as number two, ends as number one. That happens to him so often. And here is the talented Antonio Tibi. And I think he’s going to be uh asked a question or two. Let’s hear what he has to say for himself. Antonio welcome to Tana White jersey and forc. So hopefully you want to improve that one and is the podium up for grab and do you hope for winning? So, okay, his uh his his target is to fight till the end for for a spot on your podium. And uh yeah, pretty brief, you know, he just said they’re going to give everything he can to to grab that podium. Thank you to Antonio says that how would you assess Yakapo his chances in the individual time trials because we’ve got what a total of the best part of 30 km of individual time triing. It’s it’s actually a good tentis. It was I think European champion as a U23. So it’s not like he’s not going to lose loads. No. No. And and he had the first day out at tour of the he was sick. So it was not maybe the best preparation for him, but um maybe can reverse this a little bit of unlucky down there and to a volume spot for him. They’ve got all sorts of British national champion. One of the other national champions, Mate Katanio, coming in the colors of Sudak Quickstep and a very famous Basque rider. The last to line up in the colors of this famous Belgian team. GC leader without a shadow of a doubt is Mikuel Lander who has of course has enjoyed great success at the Geodalia. More success at the Jurro than at any other of the Grand Tours actually finishing on the podium and winning three stages overall. Paul Man, the Frenchman though, carrying the camera around his shoulders there. He’s their fastest man and I’ll be really interested to see whether he can come away with the stage. Tim Lamperty, Tim Lampy, Luke Lamperty, the very mature but very young American alongside James Knox who’s a climbing domestique, British rider, Ethan hat, a new signing, Ethan. And I wonder if he’ll get a bit of an opportunity himself on some of the slightly hillier stages to try and follow the moves of Tom Pickock and Japan Pison, those kinds of riders. I always seen Ethan a little bit as an artist, you know, like when he’s in a good day, he is incredibly strong. Maybe not the most consistent, but when he’s good, the man is flying. And then here is Michael L. Very lean. Looks skinny, doesn’t he? Mika, good evening to you. Welcome back to the Jitalia on the roads of the Jitalia. You’ve always been an attacking rider. You’ve always been a protagonist in in this race and we really do love watching you. Your style has taken you to the heart of the Italian fans. So tell us what’s your aim? What’s your ambition in this year’s race? Go early. try and get the Malia Rosa or wait for the overall in Rome. I’m really happy to be on the J again. It’s a special race for me and we will try we will try to be again on the podium. Welcome. So that’s it. We’ve had 16 teams introduced. Another seven teams still to make their way onto the stage. And as the evening has progressed, the square here right in the middle of the Albanian capital Tana has filled up ever more. There’s a lot going on in Tana at the moment in Albania and the Giralia seems to be right at the heart of it. Now I think as ever in the team’s presentation as the sun begins to set in the western Balkans I think uh that we are going to have the jerseys for which these riders will be battling introduced in the various different classifications before that though a little bit more of a musical change rhythm we’re going to change tone now after melodic intensity now contemporary choreography is brought to life by the ballet troop of the national opera theater. Professional ballet dancers are going to join us on stage and they’re going to perform an original composition built on dynamic and modern music enriched a little bit with the folk rhythms that we’ve got used to and adding in some contemporary beats as well. This choreography represents intergenerational and intercultural transition where tradition is reimagined, projected into the future through the language of body and music. Operas. Enjoy the show. The next show is on stage. Grand Sir. Okay. I think Thank you. Oh, hey. Ladies and gentlemen, now it’s time to present to you the four official leaders jerseys of the Giralia. So the Malia Biana new sponsor this year but presented to the best under 25 rider at the Judalia which over recent years of course has become a little bit confusing because of the uh strength of Ted Pogacha who’s won so many grand tours as well as sweeping up the best young riders jersey. He’s not here though. This jersey was won by Antonio Tibet last year who will still qualify this year for the climbers young riders competition. King of the Mountains to the King of the Mountains and you feel that strength also went to the man who won the Malor Roa last year as it sometimes does but at the Judalia unlike I think at the tour to France there is a genuine opportunity for an attacking rider from the breakaway to go on the offensive day after day and actually earn the right to wear this jersey in Rome and I think it is a realistic and achievable challenge at the jud to the leader of the points. This jersey is usually a well the last two years this jersey has been won by Jonathan Milan the sprinter from leader he’s opted to focus his efforts at the tour to France this year so without Milan who knows who might end up winning this jersey but I think riders like Maz Pison will have one serious eye on competing over three weeks to wear the Malia Chiclamino in Rome and that just leaves one jersey the Malia Roa itself Ladies and gentlemen, which rider is going to add their name to the list of great winners down the years to have worn this iconic jersey since 1991? A world icon, a page made of pink fabric where the history of cycling has been written over the past 90 years. It is the dream of every child who starts riding a bicycle. It’s the dream. Probably this year Pogata was not allowed to participate since a human on the jersey. Super human today Pagato. And which human is going to follow? Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the four official leaders jerseys. Well, it could well be that one of the riders, one of the five riders who’ve already worn this after 3 weeks might end up wearing it again in Rome after 3 weeks. Or we might have an entirely new rider, perhaps Wanauzo, perhaps even Antonio Tibeti or who knows who else pulling on this jersey for the first time in their career. We’ll also have riders, no doubt about it, who will take the jersey on stage one or in the first week, even in the second week, and hold it for just a little bit before relinquishing it. And that is a major achievement for many riders as well. So, those are the four colors to look out for over the next three weeks. Well, we presented the four official leaders jerseys of the GMA. Always a special seven more teams to announce. Stephano, we still got VF groupani CSF. We’ve got Daton A team Vizma Lisa Bike EF Education Easy Postal Trek UEE Emirates and finally Red Bull Border to be introduced. already. So VF group Barani just to give them their slightly shorter name for me their style rider at Yakapo is Filipo Fiorelli who has I think he’s only won one bike race in his career which makes which makes no sense because he is such a versatile and talented rider. I know he started his career quite late came to the sport quite late but there’s so much to like about Filipo Felli and I think it’s significant that he’s been given the number one on his back. There he is now, the man from Sicily just coming up onto the stage there. He’s definitely um um aicados of the top 10 in in this field. Yeah, came very close last time I was commentating in Italy to win the Jirro Dut and was climbing with the very best riders in that race, which is extraordinary because he really started his career as something of a sprinter. He’s kind of a sprinter but on on a light side of of the spectrum. Matimusi again very talented, very aggressive. This is a team we will see up the road and in the breakaways day after day after day animating the race, getting stuck in all Italian team. Machalooi is another rider who I think has yet to win as a professional. Luka again back for another Galia. There is Philippi just to round it off. So he said his only race he won was tour of Albania. Let’s be said by the speaker back to the seed of his only victory. Yeah. So he’s hoping maybe to to to share and to reveal relieve sorry the the same emotion. Let’s welcome our next team to the right. Six more teams to go. Dathlon A2 Alamathon who over recent years have enjoyed a great deal of success at the Dun Italia. They’ve got a few riders in their ranks who know what it’s like to win stages at Majiro and get ready and to enjoy success across different competitions and different classifications at Legal as well. You seen the first guy up on the road was Ben. I will call him the sniper. You know, whenever he got a target, he always succeed. He’s such a focused rider. He’ll he will already I’m sure Yakobo have picked out one stage in the in the Gabaldi the road book and he’ll be all in for that stage and he’ll know every meter of that road as well cuz he prepares very well. Totally. Totally. Two time winner of stages at the Gardalia. He’s not the only one who’s enjoyed success though. Sam Bennett’s won stages the Irish sprints. You’ll see him in a minute. Jeffrey Bard has did he win the King of the Mountains competition? He did, didn’t he? a couple of years ago and Dris Deont was responsible for one of the most exciting days of a breakaway over recent years as well. I was chasing. You were part of the I was chasing. They made it very hard for you that day into Travis, wasn’t it? We didn’t make it. You very nearly made it. There he is. Trista Bob, the former Belgian national champion. The best day of his career came at the G Italia. And there is Sam Bennett, the Irishman who’s looked all right actually so far in the colors of Data Modial for the second year. Disappointing last year for Sam Bennett, but he’s been going okay and showing good signs uh this year. Sam Bennett threetime stage winner at the Jirro Ditalia. Back for more. We welcome now our next squad. Please give them a huge reception. Team Vizma Lisabike. So Vizma Lisa Bike uncharacteristically don’t really come with too many big ambitions in the general classification. Instead, they come to the Joda Ditalia for the first time in his glorious career with one of the greatest riders not just of his generation but of any generation in the history of road racing. Guford makes his debut. There he is at the Giralia. High time that Italy and Dalbania got to see this man in action. Yeah, he’s going to he’s going to provide some uh some shows over the next days definitely and probably in the the pure sprinter stage is going to be on the on the on the service for Olaf Koi, one of the best sprinters we got now on the field. But it’s a team back with talent here. We got Simon Yates and Dabal previous winner. And Simon, I always make a fusion. He wore the pink jersey already. Simon, he did for a long time. And it was only Chris F and that big raid and then it fell apart in that edition of the race in 2018. Yeah. Loves this race. Simon Yates has won six stages. Dylan Vanal, one of the strongest allrounders you have to say really for Bisma Lisa bike. Can do so much. But Lemon again another rider who’s come to world tour racing quite late on in his career. Excellent climber. Steven Kravite. Talking about riders who nearly won the Geodalia 2016, 9 years ago. Steven Kwite was agonizingly close to winning it. Olaf Koy the Dutch sprinter. He’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t win at least one stage here, I think, at the Jurro. Probably the fastest man. Wilco Kelman who knows what it’s like to ride um for the general classification. A former Malor Roa wearer himself. Eduardafini, the powerhouse, the time trial specialist, and then Watard looking very serious, very focused, and looking really to get his season properly started because the classics campaign did not really go his way. Let’s hear what he has to say. This is what the Jurro is all about. Passion and excitement. Your season started with many podium finishes from some fantastic performances, but this first part of the Jirro ditalia when you look at it suits your characteristics when we look at the stages. So a victory the day after tomorrow would put you in the maladosa then a time trial. So what are you dreaming of in this gi? Yeah, pick the microphone. Let’s hear you. That’s exactly where I’m dreaming of. But um it won’t be that easy. Won’t be that easy. The Groalia, what does it mean to you to come here? I think it’s a it’s a special race, a historical race in cycling and um it’s a shame that uh only now I managed to to come to the start of this race. So uh yeah, really excited for it and really looking forward to take this opportunity. So it will be a huge challenge. Thank you. Well, the last grand tour that Watford Bernard competed in was the Vela Espña last year and of course he was going so well at the Vela. Such a successful race for him and then he crashed and that has been the story of the last couple of years for Wman. He has suffered a series of really quite serious crashes which might go some way to explaining his relatively modest form so far in 2025. But I say so far because there’s a long way to go in the season and Vanard can really I suppose start his season a fresh here at the judo dital Italian and go again. Yeah, as you said last year he had a tremendous crash in the welter with a with a big injury on on his knee. So probably he left some uh some uh marks over his uh over his beginning of the season and he with a white jersey. Yeah. Well, every year they have to change their kit, don’t they? clashes too closely with the uh Malia Roa. What a likable, talented, and successful team this has been over recent years. And there is another former winner of the Judo Ditalia, their team leader, Richard Kapaz. But you look across all these riders here, every single one of them are talented and exciting. And I I think we’re going to see a lot of this team. There’s a previous winner of a stage last year. An amazing stage in the mountains. James Shaw, the Irishman, the young Irishman, Darren Raferty, the Irish national champion being introduced to the crowd. Mikl Honor, he’ll like the look of the next couple of days as well, particularly tomorrow. Owen Dur who will mostly be on domestic duties for this team. They have to have some domestics. Alexander Sepa, maybe it was not the best placement of the two guys together. Big size difference there. I would say Casper is very tall. He is a big man, former winner of Tour Flanders and Richard Cipas. Very nearly won this race twice already in his career. It was only Jai Hindley who cracked him when he was close in the colors of the Inos Grenaders to winning his second Jodalia. Back for more in the race that I think more than any other he likes. former Olympic champion no longer on his gold bike. That leaves three more teams. And this one, well, it’s always strong, but this particular little trek team looks immensely strong and full of potential. If we expect a team to be on a podium for stage victories, that’s a little track definitely with the with the likes of Peterson definitely on the first stage already but Kon and Bach which impressed in this very very first month of the season. You could argue that Julio Chicone, the Italian star, has started 2025 better than he started any year in his career that’s already what 10 years old. 2016 I think he rode to his first stage victory Julia Chakur at the Jirro ditalia the first of three had a long wait till he won again at the Jirro but started 2025 so well there’s mass Pison back more I think it’s his second participation at Jirealia won a stage almost instantly in his first participation to complete his set of stage wins at all the grand tours the inddehaticable Jakob Moscow who’s such an important rider for little trekk in an undemonstrative way. He won’t be winning, but he’ll be supporting his uh teammates who are more likely to try and seek out the opportunities to ride to victory. Soon Cra Anderson among them, and the mighty figure of Dar Hul, who again will be on domestic duties. Now, what can Julio Chicone do at this race? I think we’re going to hear from the Italian about his ambitions. Will it be general classification or will it be stage wins? So, three victories in the Jiro in the previous edition of the Jro. He scored second place in the Leon a couple of weeks ago and also in the tour of the Als. So, he already shows some some form and they ask him if he intend to throw some glasses in the crowd. So, he’s definitely happy to be here. ship is good. It’s happy to be here with a with a very strong team. It’s going to be a very long way, but the team is in shape and every day they’re going to try to yeah put up some shows and uh fight for a victory. Well, well done Julia Chone on your start to 2025 and well done on not answering that question at all. Such a strong team there. It’s going to be a very long race. Thing is ultimately he doesn’t know how long his general classification race will last. He’s going to find out and the legs will the legs will answer that question for him. An ultimate team onto the stage. Give him a warm welcome UAE team Emirates XRG. So the winning team from 2024 minus their winning rider UAE team XRG as they are now known. That doesn’t mean that they come to the Jill Italia without the absolute iron cast iron ambition of winning it. Make no mistake, even though Ted Pagacha isn’t here, to a man, this is a frighteningly strong team. And they’ve got two, possibly three riders who could realistically win this race. But for the time being, until proved otherwise, Huan Yuzo will lead this team. Yes, as we spoke yesterday earlier, sorry. Uh it was difficult for us to say who cannot win in this team. Probably just which is too young and the heavy guy but we see Adam was already on the podium on the tour to France. Jine recently winner in Roman stage in Roman. Adam Yates who over the last couple of years has probably been riding as well as he ever has done in his career. The king of the mountains of Lela, Jvine. Jayvine after a succession of difficulties and injuries back to his best. Rafa back for more. Malti. Brandon Mcnalti another stage winner at the Jirro. Rafa amazingly has never won a stage at the Gro in Italia. He might that might change by the end of this race depending on how he is used. huge talent from Mexico from a world champion from from Italy U23 champion. Yeah, he’s the winner on the super climb recently at Milano Torino. He got Aretteta again another young rider and uh couple of years his senior who you sense I think this year is right on the brink of fulfilling all that enormous potential that we know he’s had over the last couple of years. This could be his year. So they asking him if he feel the pressure to be the leader at this at this young age and to be one of the favorite and if he expect to the race to explode already already in Friday. Um answering that yeah probably the race will be on already by the weekend and that parkour is quite demanding and yeah he need to be ready for for the GC already from from this weekend and from Friday on well it’s not wrong there the opening three days maybe even the opening day but certainly the individual time trial and definitely stage three have got a strong whiff of GC about them so there is no easing your way into this goalia they going racing for the pink jersey from the very start. As they did last year, of course, taking the pink jersey on stage two, even though it became very obvious straight away that Ted Pagato had wanted to take it on stage one and wear it the entire way round, didn’t quite manage that, managed everything else instead. There was nar on his way. our final team of the 23 teams. And so Red Bull Border Hans to all of you tonight given the number one status because Primosovich is coming returning to the scene of his most recent victory in a grand tour and he’s looking in great spirits as well. the winner of the 2023 Geodalia on that amazing day close to the Slovenian border when the mountain was turned pink with Slovenian fans who wieldled him on to victory and he broke the heart of Garan Thomas to win himself his fifth grand tour and his first Gitalia. Primos rock goes into this race with a phenomenally strong team to support him. There it is. Yan Tratnik, his compatriate Julio Pelitari, who it will be very interesting to see how they use him in the team. The young climbing talent who they signed having seen just how good he was at the duro last year. Danny Mosone now very much a dostique having been a leader in teams gone by. Danny Martinez who you could say won Aen Bernal’s Jirro Ditalia for him by helping him over the line. psychologically. Jai Hindley of course a former winner back in 2022 of this very race. Nico D who won two stages at the Jirro a couple of years ago. Javanni Aliotti a climbing domestique and then finally Primos Robovich. My word when you see the names written down like that that is an amazing team isn’t incredible. We got two pre two previous as you said GC winner plus Martinez was second or second last year second. So this that says a lot about the weight of this team and and Primos is a guy very dangerous. You know when he shap it very difficult to be to be beaten 23 you’re undoubtedly one of the best equipped teams. What kind of Jirro are you and the team hoping for in 2025? Thank you uh first of all yes thanks to all the people. Uh yes for a nice reception. We really enjoyed it. Thank you guys. uses Slovenian language to connect with the Albanian. That’s good. Yes, for us it’s just uh I mean that we that we will show our besth. I mean at the end it’s uh that all that we can do. I mean that’s why we are here. Uh and yeah that’s something I mean that I’m looking for. Thank you very much. And that’s it. The rider who will start the race on Saturday with number one on his back Primos departs the scene. looking relaxed, but Jakapo, there will be huge pressure on his shoulders. They have built a team around him. They’ve signed some big riders on big money and unlike last time where there wasn’t that much pressure on Rogich to win the Jurro. I think there is a huge amount this time around. Yeah, indeed. So let’s not forget Red Bull didn’t leave the perfect spring as they were expecting especially sorry in the in the Cobble Classic while Roglish was performingly perform performing sorry incredibly good in Catalunia winning the GC over over Ausso. So he has big expectation you know on his shoulders and the the weight of the team the the the guys is going to be here with him that’s the proof how much the team believes he can win. I would like to see another time, you know, the the flags there. Would you could you do that? Could you please, you know, like put up the the different crowd not being let off the hook? They’ve got to play their part as well. The flag of Colombia being waved. They’ll have plenty of riders to cheer on, not least Danny Martinez, Ano Rubio, Nairo Kintana, flag of the Czech Republic as well. All the nations represented in this multi-ultural pelon. There’s a couple of Slovenian flags being waved at the back of the crowd. The very first people to arrive actually as I noted when I came down to this stage earlier were Australians who’ grabbed a place right at the start right at the front of the crowd to get a good look at the riders of the uh the Pelaton of the 108. So, I think there’s one more spectacle, one more show being put on for this crowd as the sun now has set and the light starts to fade on this warm summery evening in this intriguing, very friendly capital city of a fascinating country that is going to entertain us over the next three days of racing. Of course, starting the day after tomorrow starting on Saturday. Let’s welcome them on stage. Right, let’s do that. Enjoy the show. Well, as they make their way off the stage, I’ll thank you very much. Yakapo, I think our work is done here. The teams have been presented. All that remains is for the crowd to be given one final treat. Now, don’t forget the live coverage of the race itself starts and we’ll be there for every pedal stroke all the way round and the live coverage starts on Friday. Three days in Albania. What a treat. Do join us for the entire JRO getting underway in just a couple of days time. You ready? I’m going to catch my flow. I got my Throw your hands in the air right now. I said don’t dance. Just pull up a pants and do the rock. Lean backh. Lean back. Lean backh. Lean back. Come on. About to fap. We from the Bronx, New York. It happens. Kids clapping blood. The place had the cats in the Gar. Lean back. Lean back. Lean back. Amen. Amen. Amen. Hit me. Coffee. Hate me. Mother girl. of think they freak this like we do but they shake your Baby keep my baby Tana. Now it’s time to present to you the troofo sensor. Well, one important bit of business still to deliver here in Tana, and that is, of course, giving the audience, giving the crowd here, right in the heart of the Albanian capital, the opportunity to get up close and personal with this famous trophy, one of the most famous in world sports, the prize for which the 184 riders, or at least the leaders on those teams, will be competing so hard over the coming three weeks. mountains mountains. It is a roundabout. You come and go. You explore and discover. You pedal and you come back. It’s also a family tree. At the bottom there are the pioneers. Then come the heroes. Then it’s turn. Each winner’s name of course as is being explained is engraved on the trophy. As the trophy is added to year after year. A tornado and a hurricane. It is air wake wind. It is a tad pager’s name being the most recent addition of course in 2024. It won’t be his trophy this year. We’re about to find out who instead will be added to the world call of honors for the 108th time at the Tour of Italy, the Jid Italia. New adventures, new chapters, and it knows no end. And we’ll see that trophy from time to time over the next three weeks. It’ll pop up in a train riding alongside the Pelaton of the Judalia. And of course, we’ll see it again, most emphatically by the time the race reaches the capital city of Italy in Rome, just over 3 weeks from now when one of the riders will get the opportunity to get their hands on that. and lift it a loft. In the meantime though, Tyrana will be bidding the trophy farewell and sending the race on its way as stage one gets underway in just under 48 hours time. Put on a good show for us today and I’m sure over the coming days, Albania will do the Jed Italia proud. We’re almost up and running. Don’t miss live coverage over the coming three weeks. Paulo, it’s a special moment Albania when the Tropha Sensina with a Madrina Elanora arrives on the stage for the GO Italia. What a special moment. Thank you, Albania. Thanks to our local organizing committee. Don’t forget the appointment for all of you is Friday in Durato for the start of one of three amazing stages here in Albania for the Gino Nitalia 2025. And don’t forget also that the arrival of the race is here in Tana. Fantastic. Organization. Thanks a lot to everyone. Stephano Anthony, thank you Anthony. It was a pleasure. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. You said it was going to be a very special night and I think uh it has been a special night. Stephano, Paulo, Angie, Elanora, all that remains for us to say is Groia without a quiet. Dollar. Oh yeah.